I have always dreamed of whom I will be dancing with for prom. I have vividly pictured out how the lights would gleam upon the dance floor. I actually felt like I’m Cinderella for a night. Everyone’s watching. They are staring as if I am so trendy and they couldn’t get over how graceful I look like. But who will be the Prince Charming? Hmmm… I don’t know. He could be somewhere out there…
He could be Travis, Eric or Pochoy. I wonder which of them will the “lucky guy”. I guess, I should say: “Whose ‘lucky girl’ am I?” Who knows? That’s God for sure but I will never know until I get to that part of my life.
I dig nerd guys. Travis is one of those guys who are so intelligent he’s a magnet to all the guys and gals who need help when it comes to home works. He’s not your typical nerd who wears professor type black glasses and braces, no. Well, he does wear glasses and it’s black too but he’s cute enough to be noticed by me. I like his seriousness towards work. He’s the type of guy you could sit down with to talk about books and debatable issues. He’s good in analyzing too. I like the way his eyes stare at books, paper works and even on the chalkboard. Travis is to dreamy whenever he fixes his glasses to his face. He could be IT but I know he won’t notice me because after all, he’s too serious to ask me out nor dance with me unless it’s for grades.
My Prince Charming could be “Eric.” I mean he’s every lady’s dream guy in my batch. And for that for sure you’d note him as THE popular guy. I know and you’re correct. He is popular. He is so athletic. He does have those noodles that every guy would die for. He’s a great leader too. After all, he’s still the captain of the football team and he is like what? Just the class president? Ah, well… What do you think? He isn’t like the typical popular jock you’d define as the playboy, no. He’s smart and responsible. He is so hands on with things he has to do even if it’s so hard which is why I’m so lucky to have him as my partner for the upcoming project for the whole quarter. I like the way he yawns when he really feels so sleepy. He looks so cute when he does this childish gig of his when he’s so sleepy during class, which is saying “I’m SHLEEPY.” The best part that I like about him is that he looks so manly when he’s in Leader Mode. And when he yells my name… Oh, I feel like dropping dead right away and have him catch me on his strong arms. But I’m not even in to him. How would he ever feel like I exist as in… exist. I can’t deny that he’s so high and I’m like at the bottom of the heap. Only a miracle close to reality would be my hope for that.
I don’t know why I thought of Pochoy being one of those guys? How could he ever? I mean, yes, we are friends but why would he do such a– “Hey, why is my name written there?” said a familiar voice. I turned my head behind me and there’s the runt I’m just talking about. And yeah, I’m like oh snap.
How could I ever forget that he shows up everywhere randomly? Oh snap, indeed. “Nothing. That’s not even you.” I said just to clear the air and don’t have him curious about it anymore. But I get the feeling that it’s obvious. “What?” Whoops! Guilty.
He chuckled. “You’re guilty.” I knew he’d say that. “Oh, come off it, Nippy. I guess it wouldn’t be so bad to share what that is for.” Here we go again with the various excuses. I don’t like him calling me by that name though. “And besides I’m your bff or whatever, right?” I might agree on the “whatever” part. “And plus, that’s my name written there, so… you know what I mean,” finally he added. I sighed and thought swiftly and deeply on how I’d cover for this incident.
“Poch… These are nothing, just some personal papers that I write when I don’t feel like doing anything.”
“And, yeah? What’s my role in there?”
“Just the oreos you gave this morning. Happy now?”
He nodded. Phew! Finally, I’m off the hook. I thought I wouldn’t be able to cover for it. It’s really hard when I get caught by him.
“So, what’s up?” I asked to break the sudden silence. “Why are you here?”
“Nothing. “ Uh, ok? You’re lying again for sure. He cleared his throat and finally opened his out to say something. “Can you have a sec?” I nodded, of course. “Ok, just put this thing on. Don’t remove or else.” Great, I’m blindfolded now and I can’t see anything.
“What’s this? What are you up to now?”
“Just be quiet.”
He took me somewhere I’ve no idea where. And I’m really nervous because this might be a prank or something. Suddenly, I pictured what could happen if it’s actually a prank. I might be set up for a crack house or worse. I’m starting to feel scared now.
“This should be something or else, I swear to God I would –“
“Open your eyes now.”
It was slightly blurry at first. But I easily got the notion that he was trying to pull off a “prom.” For two people? It was just a small room and this prom isn’t what I pictured out. No lights. No dance floor. No gowns and not even the people to stare at us. All I can see is a nice table with a clean white cloth on. And on the table there was a white rosal corsage and a jeweled headband. I guess was supposed to be a tiara. There were balloons on the floor.
“Ok? Pochoy, what’s this for?”
“Well, what do you think?”
“I know. I get it but why me? And why now, if I may ask?”
He sighed. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him so serious except for examination days. “I’m leaving Manila, Ria.” I was shocked. He never mentioned anything like this before. How come he didn’t tell me? “I’m leaving for States. I have to go to my father as soon as possible and I can’t wait until graduation not even prom. So, I pulled this off.”
“So, why me?”
“Because you are one of the reason why I’ll be coming back as soon as I can.”
“Uh –I don’t get it.”
“If I’d ask someone out for prom, it’d be you because I’m ‘your whatever.’ I wouldn’t ask anyone out except for someone who truly means a lot to me.”
I had to shut up. I was so overwhelmed. I didn’t expect that this would be the reason why he’d ask me out for prom and most especially this. He took the corsage from the table and put them in my right hand. He placed the head band on my head. “You look better this way,” he said.
He stood in front of me. “So, may I have this dance?” he asked. I couldn’t help but simply smile and he knew.
And so, my prom wasn’t as much as I have expected. There was no nothing in there but just me, Pochoy and our waltz. I know. You might think we looked so dumb but I must say it was “romantically dumb.” It was something I could never ever forget in my entire life. I didn’t even manage to attend the actual prom nevertheless, I was just home studying for admission exams for universities. I still have to study hard. And I also kept in mind what Pochoy told me– when we first danced –the last time I met him.
“Study hard. When I come back, I will not only be your Prince Charming but your King.”
